Three members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors were sworn into new four-year terms during the first board meeting of 2023.
All supervisorial districts were redrawn during the 2021 redistricting process, with Districts 2,4, and 5 going into effect in January 2023, following the 2022 election process.
Sworn in by Judge Jorge Hernandez, new Fifth District Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez joins the county from the City of Moreno Valley, where he served as mayor for seven years. His top priorities include homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure.
The new Fifth District includes the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Calimesa, Hemet, Moreno Valley, and San Jacinto. District Five also encompasses the unincorporated communities of Cabazon, Cherry Valley, Lakeview, and Nuevo, as well as parts of Valle Vista and Whitewater.
Supervisor Karen Spiegel was sworn into her second four-year term as the Second District supervisor and first swearing-in under the new district boundaries. The Second District now stretches from Jurupa Valley to Lake Elsinore.
Plans for Supervisor Spiegel’s next term include being a strong advocate for the county’s fair share in behavioral health and other outdated funding formulas that are based on Riverside County’s population from three decades ago.
“My voice is going to be louder these next few years on many issues, including local control, behavioral health, and supporting our businesses, “Spiegel said. “I pick my battles, and these are three big ones I’m picking this year.”
Supervisor V. Manuel Perez also took his oath of office marking his third term as the Fourth District supervisor. Stretching from the San Jacinto Mountains to the Arizona border, the new Fourth District is geographically the largest district in Riverside County,
Supervisor Perez noted economic development and public safety, as well as health and human services are continued areas of focus for the county.
In addition, Ben J. Benoit was sworn into his first term as the countywide elected auditor-controller. Benoit was previously the Wildomar mayor and a council member for 12 years. Benoit is the son of former Fourth District Supervisor John J. Benoit, who passed away in 2016 during his term on the board.
Supervisor Kevin Jeffries and Supervisor Chuck Washington were voted in by their colleagues to serve as the 2023 board chair and 2023 vice chair, respectively.
